Quantcast
Channel: A Really Good Yarn
Viewing all 4079 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Happy New Year

December 31, 2016, 3:45 pm
$
0
0
2016 was the year of cowls and shawls for me. Here are a few of my finished projects.
The Greyhound Shawl knit in Mrs. Crosby Hat Box.
Annisa Wrap knit with Mrs. Crosby Train Case.
The Eccentric Chevron Wrap is a kit from Prism Yarns.
I made two Hitchhikers with SweetGeorgia Party of Five kits.
 

Crazy Magic Boomerang knit in one ball of Zauberball 100.
Outline knit in Skinny Singles from Hedgehog Fibres.
Winter Cove in madelinetosh asap.

Gaptastic knit with three skeins of tosh home.
3 Colour Cashmere Cowl knit with a String Quintet kit from Lorna's Laces.
The Inspira Cowl in Classic Elite Liberty

I'm close to finishing a few shawls. Very close. They will look good on my 2017 year in review post :)

Happy New Year!!!
↧
Search

2017

January 1, 2017, 5:24 pm
$
0
0
I started going through my projects and here are a few that I need to finish.
Building Blocks is so close. I need to block it and sew in the ends.
The Endless Wrap. I'm almost finished the 5th ball - there are 9 in total.
Meadowside
Find Your Fade
Outline. I have 100 rows to knit to make it the same length as my first Outline. It sounds like a lot but the rows aren't very long and the pattern is easy.

Remember, for every project that you finish you get to start another one. I'm going to have a fun January and February casting on new things.
↧
↧

Potluck

January 2, 2017, 1:42 pm
$
0
0
I was working on the website this morning and added Ginga from Noro. The yarn has been marked down to $16.50 a skein.

A quick and satisfying knit, this open poncho provides a simple canvas for the rich marled tones of bulky cotton-blend Ginga. Bands of single and double eyelets complement the contrasts. Garter stitch borders are worked into the side edges. After the shoulders are seamed, a stockinette neckband is picked up and knit at the shaped crew neckline.

The pattern for the Openwork Poncho is available on Ravelry.

Sylvan shades of evergreen, berry and chestnut shimmer in the wool/ silk blend of Shinryoku colorway #5. The shawl collar of this openwork cardigan folds back naturally to show a different dimension of the banded slip-stitch eyelet pattern. Knit crosswise in one piece, the main body features armholes worked into the fabric with bound-off and cast-on stitches. The sleeves are knit separately. Garter stitch borders the cuffs and lower fronts.

The cardigan is knit with Shinryoku - also marked down to $16.50 a ball.

The pattern is purchased on Ravelry.

The buttons are on and it looks amazing.

Pattern: Lemongrass (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: 2 skeins of Cascade Eco +


I thought my post was finished and then Mr. Canada Post walked in. A huge box from Hedgehog Fibres. The website has been updated.
There are two Potluck colours in Hedgehog Sock. We have 7 skeins of each and when they are gone we won't be able to get them again.
'Potluck' colourways are one of a kind dyelots that will not be repeated. Their style is the dyers choice, and can be fun and experimental!
Our next shipment (arriving the middle to end of February) has 4 more colours, 8 skeins of each. I will be upping the number on orders after that. The colours are awesome.

And two Potluck colours in Skinny Singles.
Why are there only 7 skeins of each colour? One skein of each is already in my bag. :)
↧

Sally Melville

January 3, 2017, 7:42 pm
$
0
0
I made it to the fifth colour this afternoon.
I can't wait to finish. Because I think it's going to look good and I have more colour combinations picked out.

When I was writing yesterday's post I saw that Joji's Lemongrass was knit with the same yarn that Sally Melville knit her Easy Wrap Jacket in. We can't get the yarn in Canada right now but Eco + from Cascade will make a great jacket. 2 skeins is all you need.
When I was looking at Sally's patterns on Ravelry, the picture beside the jacket is her Memories Sweater. Sally wore the sweater at Camp and it is great.

When leaving for a trip, I needed something to knit that would take a long time but not a lot of space. So I made a swatch, gathered leftover sock yarns, made a pile of 8yd butterflies, and proceeded. It did take a long time, but since every square was different, it was constantly and totally engaging. And little did I know it would become my favourite sweater--so much so that I immediately started another!

I call it my Memories Sweater, because I can recall where I purchased each of the sock yarns used. So, besides being fashionable and comfortable and oft-admired (by knitters from three continents!), this garment has the preciousness of a quilt. It is truly irreplaceable and much treasured. I expect yours will be too!

 
PS All of these squares are joined as you work, plus I tell you when to work in tails. There is very little sewing (or tails) in this garment. I also offer lots of photos to help you through this. It is not difficult, and it is great fun!

Liberty Wool is a super-soft, washable wool available in solid and printed colors. This yarn’s balanced twist will make all stitch combinations pop. With all the great qualities of wool and the ease of machine washability, Liberty Wool knits at a gauge that suits many designs.

Worked flat and seamed, no purling is necessary to knit these mittens and the garter stitch makes them extra squishy and warm. Work in stripes of solid colors, or use one of the printed colorways and let the yarn do the striping for you.
Classic Elite has a new free mitten pattern. Super simple and quick to make.

↧

Rainbows

January 4, 2017, 5:41 pm
$
0
0
Our next shipment from Frabjous Fibers should be arriving this week.

It's the rainbowload of Mini Skeins, oh yes. Four of our popular Mini Skein Packs are combined into one enormous, beautiful rainbow for a full-spectrum knitting experience! Twenty 1-oz Mini Skeins: combine them all for a large project, or spread them out over several smaller projects. The possibilities are truly endless!
Cheshire Cat fingering: 128 yards per 1 oz. skein, 2560 yards total
Infinite Stripes is a free pattern from Frabjous Fibers.
There are infinite versions of this scarf. Ours is designed to use one 4 oz skein as the main color, and one of our Mini-Skein Packs for the contrasting colors.

The result is a simple knit, with no-brainer color choices, and a fabulous drape that can be wrapped once or twice around the neck and is sure to go with everything.
Combo packs are in the shipment to make Infinite Stripes or Which Way (below - pattern purchased on Ravelry). The yarn is Mad Hatter - Frabjous Fibers sportweight 100% wool. As soon as the order arrives I'll post pictures of the special combo pack that they put together for us.
You’ll get somewhere quick with this engaging chevron stripe shawl made with one main color and five mini skeins. Attractive, slim stripes allow you to carry your colors along, so you’ll only weave in ends where you’ve moved on to the next mini skein. You’ll be able to get someWEAR in no time at all!
The Combo Pack is a full-size 4-oz skein with a coordinating Mini Skein Pack of five 1-oz skeins.


It's not long until I head south for TNNA. This is the trade show that shop owners go to to purchase yarn, patterns, needles and accessories for the next season.

I was looking through the show brochure today and Offhand Designs will be at the show with new bags. Meet Lucy.
I'll be ordering these :) The colours are awesome.
I can't wait to get to the show. Meeting up with friends that I only get to see twice a year. Seeing new yarn and colours and needles and patterns and bags and.... I'm getting excited.
↧
↧

Trippy

January 5, 2017, 5:55 pm
$
0
0
I was in the store very early this morning. The furnace was making a funny noise yesterday afternoon so the repair man was here at 8am. (Thank goodness it wasn't anything major). I accomplished quite a bit before the store opened.

I ordered new Opal Sock Yarn. We should see it next week.

 
Website updates were done. Mail orders were packed. I finished my chores early so there is going to be a bit of knitting time this afternoon.
Wannietta sent me a picture of Born Trippy. I can't wait to see how the colours turn out.
A few more rows and I'm into the lace pattern. The Big Bang Theory is taping and the World Junior Hockey is on. It's a great game so far. Go Canada Go!
↧

Free Pattern Friday

January 6, 2017, 5:35 pm
$
0
0
Moss stitch edging, eyelet rounds, and garter stitch bands create a fantastic (and fantastically simple to execute) mix of textures made all the more dynamic by shifting through the colorways in a gradient Mini Skein Pack as you go!
Pattern: Storm Clouds Cowl (it's free right now on Ravelry. I don't know if/when it will become a paid pattern)
Yarn: A mini skein kit from Frabjous Fibers

The sample is knit with Frabjous Fibers Queen of Hearts. We don't have these kits yet but you can use a Cheshire Cat Mini Skein kit.

The Queen of Hearts kits should be here in February and will retail somewhere between $60 and $65 - it will depend on the US exchange rate when the shipment arrives.

The Combo Packs of Mad Hatter look great. 

If you missed my post from earlier this week - this is Infinite Stripes (pattern free on Ravelry). One Combo pack will make the cowl.


 

This is the special Combo Pack that Frabjous Fibers put together for us.

There are more Combo Packs in the store and I hope to have them on the website next week.
Ambah O'Brien has a new pattern. I want/need this!! Purchase the pattern on Ravelry.
Introductory Offer: Enjoy 20% off Assana through midnight January 10, no code needed - just add to cart.

Fun to knit and a timeless addition to your wardrobe, Assana
provides a beautiful base for your favourite colour trio. Play
two colours against each other in the stripes section: a gradient, speckled yarn, semi-solid hand dyes - anything goes here; then complement with a bold or subtle choice of colour for the zig-zag lace section.

Worked side ways, on the bias, Assana includes both written and charted instructions for the lace section.
We are out of stock of the colours that Ambah used (a few boxes went out this afternoon) so I've made some alternate colourways. We should have the sample colours in February.

From left to right

Cinder
Concrete
Petrol
Sorry not Sorry
Shiver
Electric
This one is very close to the sample colour

tosh merino light antler
Budgie
Wish
Oracle
Crystal
Sorry not Sorry
Sorry not Sorry
Potluck
Silence
Sorry not Sorry
Potluck
Electric
Silence
Potluck
Electric
Silence
Shiver
Electric
Crystal
Concrete
Petrol

There are endless possibilities. I just grabbed some yarn before leaving the store.

You can also use
-tosh merino light
-tosh sock
-tosh twist light
-Hedgehog Twist Sock
-Mrs. Crosby Train Case
-Lorna's Laces Solemate

I can't share with you yet but I know that there will be new Splattershot colours coming from Lorna's Laces that will work great in the shawl.

I'm excited. This could be my plane knitting later this month.

↧

21 Color Slouch

January 7, 2017, 3:56 pm
$
0
0
We've been waiting and they're finally on the way. The shipment is at the FedEx depot in Burlington and I'm hoping we'll see it on Monday.

The 21 Color Slouch from Blue Sky Fibers. The kit contains 21 mini skeins of Woolstok and the pattern to make the hat.
 
100% Fine Highland Wool
Rich in character with excellent stitch definition and easy to work with, this yarn is available in lots of colors. You’ll quickly cozy up to it, no doubt.
I'm a big fan of Woolstok. It is great to knit with and the finished project blocks out beautifully.

Wendy Evolution kits should be arriving on Monday or Tuesday as well.
Scarf/shawl kit in a box. Super soft, hand knotted colour changing yarn (the colour change is produced by dyeing each colour separately and then hand tying set lengths of yarn together), packaged to work straight from the box.
It's hard to believe but the Frolic will be here before we know it. Mark your calendars and watch for updates on the Knitters Frolic Facebook Page.
↧
Search

Happy Sunday

January 8, 2017, 5:21 pm
$
0
0
I borrowed this picture from the Freia Fibers Instagram feed. Tina made the Sonoma Scarf with 2 balls of Shawl Ball. I love it. The scarf was originally knit in lace weight (we have two samples in the store). We need this as a store sample. Alex just finished a project so she'll be able to start this week.

Wannietta has been busy.
Born Trippy is growing. She's lightly blocked it as well. The stitches weren't lying flat and it was bothering her. How can you block part way through a project? Lie a damp towel on it. When the towel dries your knitting will look flatter.

I made it to the sixth colour on Find Your Fade. I have just under two weeks to finish the shawl if I'm going to take it to TNNA.



↧
↧

Single Ply

January 9, 2017, 5:15 pm
$
0
0
Freia Fibers has discontinued their Ombre Fingering yarn so we are marking it down in the store and online - 20% off. The yarn was $40 a ball - now $32 a ball.
Freia Ombré Fingering is a gorgeous single ply that is available in wonderful ombre colors. As your project progresses, the color will change. Great for interesting garments and accessories
75% wool
25% nylon
75 grams
294 m
We used 2 balls and 4.5mm needles to make Auburn Wave (pattern purchased on Ravelry)
Here are some more pattern suggestions

Hitchhiker
Dangling Conversation
Quaker Yarn Stretcher
Quaker Lines
Crazy Magic Boomerang
Crazy Magic (Classic Cowl)
Crazy Magic Bias

It's wool and nylon so you can make socks with it as well. 

We received 3 new colours of Malabrigo Mechita today.
57
121
895

From Malabrigo
We liked Mecha so much, we hit it with a shrink ray! Mechita is a fingering-weight version of our beautifully-dyed single-ply superwash yarn. Just as soft and rich as the original, but great for lighter projects!

Great for: Shawls, scarves, garments, accessories, baby and kids items, lace, cables, textured stitches.
384m (420 yards) on a 100gram skein
100% superwash merino wool

Mechita is a single ply yarn - I'm kind of addicted to those. Merino light. Hedgehog Skinny Singles. Zen Serenity Silk Singles.

A parcel went to Lynda today with three skeins of Mechita. The project is a secret until it's finished but I'm pretty sure it will be a hit.

↧

Lucy

January 10, 2017, 5:42 pm
$
0
0
Alex dropped in this morning to pick up yarn for her next project.

She is going to make the Assana Wrap for me the store. The stripes will be the two speckled colours. The lace section will be solid purple. We are combining Mrs. Crosby Train Case with Lorna's Laces Solemate.
55% Superwash Merino Wool
15% Nylon
30% Outlast® viscose
Approx. 390m / 425 yds in a 100g skein
Fingering weight


Alex brought in her finished Outline that she knit in Skinny Singles from Hedgehog. I love her colours. Perfect for the snowy, wet day we're having today.

A customer commented today that there haven't been any Lucy pictures lately.
This is from her visit to the store last week. She's still growing :)
↧

New Store Sample

January 11, 2017, 4:53 pm
$
0
0
Diana was busy over the Christmas holidays and made a new sample for the store.
Pattern: Kallara (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: Hedgehog Skinny Singles - 1 skein each of Naive and Boombox
Go subtle or go bold with this fun shawl. Opt for gentle stripes for a neutral shawl, perfect for any occasion, then knit another in your favourite brights, neons, gradient or speckled hues teamed with a strong solid for a show-stopping accessory.
Kallara features a slightly asymmetrical, shallow triangular shape with long tapered ends. Sitting comfortably on the shoulders without too much bulk, it’s adaptable enough to be worn as a wrap, shawl, or scarf.



I asked Lynn to put it on so we could see how it looked and she didn't take it off.
If I don't get my knitting finished for next week then I'll take this to wear.
↧

Pompoms

January 12, 2017, 3:08 pm
$
0
0
Churchmouse Yarns took their very popular Shoulder Cozy Pattern and adapted it for Rowan's Brushed Fleece. 3 balls is all you need and it's on sale in the store right now for $10.13 a ball. You need to purchase the original pattern (in the store or on Ravelry) and then download the addendum from the Churchmouse website.
We’ve called it a capelet. And a poncho. And a cowl. And perhaps … a snood? We’ve always wondered what would happen if we just kept knitting away at our cherished Shoulder Cozy. Now we know! It’s a Cozy that doubles as a cowl for those colder days.

And using only one strand of Rowan’s Brushed Fleece, it is a generously fluffy guard against the frigid chill of mid-winter. A super soft blend of extra-fine merino wool and baby alpaca, Brushed Fleece is chunky and insulating, but remarkably light. The easy garter stitch has a rustic charm in this range of natural colors and ensures you’ll soon be all snuggled up in your Cozy.

Mr. Canpar just brought in a huge box of Pompoms.

We received 15 colours of the 10cm pompoms.

24 Cream/Black

27 Grey

12 Berry

 10 Petrol

 23 Azure
5 Silver
The Spicer Hat from Blue Sky Fibers would look great with a pompom on it.

In the 13cm pompoms we received 5 colours including Aubergine.

This is the size that we put on Beth's hat.

We've been waiting a while for these and I have no clue if/when we can get anymore. If you're looking for pompoms, please don't wait.
↧
↧

Ambah O'Brien Mystery KAL

January 13, 2017, 5:48 pm
$
0
0
It's always a good day when new yarn arrives.

From Lang
Our classic amongst the multi-coloured yarns: now in a wheel-like cake. With the 200g presentation you will have fewer breaks in the colour sequence. The latest shades display more matte-shiny effects and even more complex colour combinations. You will be enchanted!
50% virgin wool
50% acrylic
380m in a 200gram cake
6-7mm needles
$40 a cake
One cake will make the hat, cowl and fingerless gloves. The pattern is purchased on Ravelry.
9
11
 45
88
98

Wendy Evolution kits arrived earlier this week.
Scarf/shawl kit in a box. Super soft, hand knotted colour changing yarn (the colour change is produced by dyeing each colour separately and then hand tying set lengths of yarn together), packaged to work straight from the box.
 



Ambah O'Brien is hosting a Mystery KAL starting the beginning of February.
Choose 3 skeins of gorgeous sock yarn and head over here to join Ambah and friends in a fun mystery knit-a-long. Over 6 weeks, four clues will reveal a shawl, that will keep you guessing. Enjoy the company of others as you solve the mystery and finish yours on time to be in the running to win some great prizes.
Ambah is one of my favourite designers and we have lots of her shawls hanging in the store. Her patterns are very well written and I highly suggest joining the fun. Here is a link to her designs on Ravelry so you can see her work...

I'm almost finished the sixth colour on Find Your Fade. A bit of knitting tonight and then lots on the weekend. I hope to have it finished by Sunday evening. Speaking of Sunday evening - the next season of Homeland is starting. 
↧

Teaser

January 14, 2017, 7:52 pm
$
0
0
I made it to the last colour. Two football games, hockey and golf have been perfect for knitting. I have less than 30 rows and it's finished.

I was going to write about a new yarn coming in February but now it's late so I'm just going to give you a teaser and I'll tell more tomorrow.

↧
Search

LITLG

January 15, 2017, 8:44 pm
$
0
0
There will be a new yarn coming our way in February.
Life in the Long Grass
We are an Irish artisan hand dyed yarn and art studio in the countryside in Ireland. I am a keen knitter and was taught to knit and crochet by my Mum and our crafty neighbour Mrs Ryan. I love working with natural fibres and incorporate them in our home and what we wear as much as possible.

We worked as a graphic designer (Caroline) and architect (Jonny) in London and Spain before moving back to Ireland and living in the countryside – from there it was a natural transition to take our love of colour, art and design and apply it to our love of yarn.
All the yarn in our first shipment will be Fine Sock 75/25
75% Superwash Merino & 25% Nylon, 4ply Fingering weight yarn, 425m (467 yards) and 100g
75/25 4ply yarn is smooth, soft and the most durable sock yarn making it the perfect choice for all projects:  socks, baby clothing, shawls, cardigans, and sweaters.  The softness and drape is fab next to the skin.
As I was downloading the pictures of the yarn for the website I kept thinking to myself "that would look beautiful in Find Your Fade."
There will be semi-solid colourways as well.


This is just a sample of the great colours coming. There will be 13 mottled colours and 15 solids. Watch for updates here and on our Instagram account - needleemporium.

I cast off the last stitch just as the football game was ending. Tomorrow we'll sew in the ends and then I'll get more pictures.
↧

Find Your Fade

January 16, 2017, 6:22 pm
$
0
0
It's done and all the ends are sewn in. I'm not blocking it before I go for fear that it won't be dry in time.

Pattern: Find Your Fade (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: 7 skeins of Hedgehog Sock

This Bonnie Bishoff shawl pin is perfect.

I really, really loved making this shawl. There will be more in my future. You are joining a new colour before you get bored with the last one. 


 

Now I need to figure out what I'm taking to knit on the plane. I want to start something new but the Ambah O'Brien Mystery KAL starts in a few weeks. Okay, who am I kidding? I'll start two projects :)
↧
↧

1550

January 17, 2017, 3:47 pm
$
0
0
Madelinetosh is getting ready to dye an order for us. It is going to be big. 1550 skeins. That's a lot of yarn.

Here are a few of the new colours coming in merino light.
 Abiquiu
Bronze Age
Ceremony
Hi-Lo
Kenobi
Snake

February is going to be a big month for shipments. Hedgehog is getting ready to dye our next order. LITLG. Lorna's Laces...

I'm going to be a responsible person and finish a project on my trip. This is the 3 Color Cashmere Cowl in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. There will be knitting on the plane but not much during the trip. I think there could be some yarn coming home from the show as well so I'll have something for the ride home should I finish the cowl. How do you like my bag? It was a Christmas gift from Cathy - she made it. She's been hoarding the knitting fabric and I was lucky to be the recipient of some. It's the perfect size for plane knitting.
↧

New Arrivals

January 18, 2017, 5:51 pm
$
0
0
A newsletter went out this morning. Before it goes I have Beth look at it to make sure there aren't any mistakes. She saw the 21 Color Slouch from Blue Sky Fibers and asked me to bring her a kit. Expensive proof reading :)




Magnetic Boards are back in stock. We received just a few and more are coming next week.
This indispensable pattern holder is a handy way to keep and display patterns and charts while working on a project. Useful for all knitters, but a “must-have” for lace knitters, especially
Convenient tool for keeping patterns close and easy to read
Easy to fold and unfold for storage; Lays flat when folded
Can stand upright when folded open, vertically or horizontally
Snap closure insures that materials inside stay neat and put
Extremely strong magnets keep patterns and/or charts in place
One extra long magnet strip also works as an indicator guide
Handy pocket holds patterns and charts
Pen pocket keeps marker close at hand
Black poly-jacquard fabric is sturdy and easy to keep clean
A very large box of Opal sock yarn arrived today.
Illusion

Talisman

Now it's time for laundry. I need to start thinking about what's going into the suitcase tomorrow night.
↧

Another FO

January 19, 2017, 4:07 pm
$
0
0
It's finished. All the ends are sewn in. I love it. I was going to take it with me but I've left it hanging in the store.

Pattern: Building Blocks (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: 4 skeins of tosh merino light


Mr. FedEx brought in two huge boxes from Blue Sky Fibers this afternoon.

We are well stocked on Royal Petites.

100% Royal Alpaca. There are 91m on a 35gram ball and you need 2 balls to make any of these great accessories.

The Countess Mitts.

The Catherine Cowl.

The Buckingham Hat.

I've knit with the Royal Petites and the yarn feels great in your hands. It feels even better when you wear it.


Wow. The instructors for the Toronto Knitters Frolic look amazing!
↧
Viewing all 4079 articles
Browse latest View live
Search